Replay: Chat with recruiting expert Sean Merriman

Sean answered readers' questions Jan. 10, 2017

Sean is here to answer your questions about Michigan and Michigan State football and basketball recruiting. Sean is a recruiting aficionado who used to work for rivals.com and the Big Ten Network and now is with Intersport.

by James Jahnke1/9/2017 4:38:38 PM

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Hello all, welcome to today's recruiting chat. Let's get started.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:00:35 PM

A while ago Hunter Rison mentioned MSU having two silent commits. Is this still the case? Any idea who they are?

by Jack1/10/2017 4:01:42 PM

Great point, Jack. At the time, my thought was maybe he was talking about KJ Hamler, but that turned quickly and became evident he was leaning towards Penn State shortly after that comment. Tough to say given so many in-state kids have committed to Michigan in the past two months.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:02:47 PM

Now that we have gone through two HS all American games and the big names are committed, who is left that Michigan is really working hard for?

by Frank the Tank1/10/2017 4:02:57 PM

I think Aubrey Solomon is the biggest recruit left on Michigan's board. Many have him leaning towards Alabama right now, but nothing has been confirmed. Adding Chuck Filiaga was huge for the Wolverines

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:05:15 PM

Do you anticipate any commits this weekend for MSU? If yes, do you have any favorites?

by bbliss20221/10/2017 4:05:32 PM

Cordarrian Richardson is the guy that I have my eye on for the Spartans. He's a four-star RB from Memphis and the Spartans are in need of another RB in this class.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:07:10 PM

MSU really needs a big DT (300 lb +) in its 2017 class. What are its best prospects as of now?

by Bobby1/10/2017 4:07:32 PM

The list really is pretty slim. One guy to keep an eye on is Victor Dimukeje, a DT prospect out of the Baltimore area who is expected to visit MSU this coming weekend.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:11:06 PM

Who is the most critical recruit left on UM's board?

by cbrad1/10/2017 4:11:15 PM

Aubrey Solomon

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:11:32 PM

What are UM odds with Aubrey Solomon now?

by cbrad1/10/2017 4:11:42 PM

I think Alabama is the leader here, followed by Michigan, Georgia and USC. If I had to put a percentage on it, I'd say 30%

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:12:11 PM

With the success that the Spartan DB's have had in recent years and #1 Draft Picks why has it been so difficult for MSU to attract nice & top corners. Hence, who do you see actually joining this class in the defensive backfield and what our your odds in pulling Clemson RB decommit and Oliver Martin

by SpartanSpirit731/10/2017 4:12:15 PM

That's a good question, although keep in mind that guys like Darqueze Dennard and Trae Waynes were not highly ranked players coming out of HS. They were guys that this coaching staff did a great job with. Last year, MSU signed two highly touted defensive backs in Justin Layne and Demetric Vance. The year before that, they signed David Dowell and Josh Butler, both four-star prospects. Now it's a matter of developing those guys and having them contribute. We've already seen sparks from Justin Layne. Still waiting for Dowell and Butler. My guess is Vance will play a lot this upcoming year. There's a lot of talented DBs in the program right now.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:16:26 PM

Given the fact that the Spartans seem to be down to offering plan B or Plan C level recruits, why not just bank them for next year and hope they have a better season?

by Plymouth Observer1/10/2017 4:17:25 PM

They need depth and have a set number of recruits in mind to sign this year. Maybe these guys aren't top options, but there are still plenty of very good prospects left who MSU's class have been in touch with.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:18:42 PM

Why did UM seemingly cool on WR Oliver Martin with Nico Collins sniffing UGA recently? When a recruit names a leader and doesn't pull the trigger for a year there is something holding him back and he often ends up elsewhere.

by cbrad1/10/2017 4:18:51 PM

Valid point. Nico Collins' recruitment has been very odd. It seems like Michigan has been the leader all along, but a lack of commitment up to this point has left people puzzled. Non-the-less, having DPJ, Tarik Black and Brad Hawkins (2016 commit) coming to Ann Arbor is pretty darn good!

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:21:28 PM

Do you have knowledge of any committed recruit that Harbaugh and his staff are still targeting (flip) ?

by luke041/10/2017 4:21:39 PM

Aubrey Solomon is the big one. I know there is a lot of talk surrounding Kai-Leon Herbert visiting other schools, so they want to make sure they keep him. Florida has been the popular school talked about with Herbert lately.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:24:57 PM

Also keep an eye on Mekhi Benton, a massive OT prospect out of Virginia who is very high on the Wolverines

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:27:02 PM

I know that assigning stars to a HS player is subjective and arbitrary but everything I read and see about Dylan McCaffrey looks 5 star to me. What is that one quality that he lacks that makes him a 4 star in the minds of the experts?

by Jleed1/10/2017 4:27:11 PM

He needs to fill out his body, which he will do in college. His arm strength is good, but not elite. He is just outside the five-star ranking, so maybe that changes before National Signing Day, but this is pretty irrelevant. Michigan has themselves a great QB here, 5 star or not!

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:30:18 PM

More and more it seems like every time there is a NBA or NFL game on television there are Spartans making some sort of impact on the game. Do you see that helping us get an advantage over other schools in recruiting?

by Fort Wayne Sparty1/10/2017 4:30:33 PM

It's true, between Draymond, Le'Veon, Kirk, Cook, Sims, there are a lot of MSU guys doing big things in the professional ranks. I think it's an advantage. There are so many things that go into a kids recruitment, but path to the NFL/NBA is certainly one of them, and a very important one at that.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:32:42 PM

Does the early playing time of Chris Evans and doom and Gary convince recruits that they can start as frosh??

by Dan tonio wears crocs 1/10/2017 4:32:49 PM

Absolutely. Early playing time is another one of those factors that recruits look into when choosing a school. With so many graduating seniors from this year's team, there is going to be a chance for freshmen to come in and make an immediate impact this season. That has to be appealing to a recruit.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:34:59 PM

When it comes to Big time recruits, it seems MSU is always in everyone's top 5. In basketball it was Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, Swanigan and football DJP and Ambry Thomas to name a few. What are we lacking that other schools have? Is it academics, facilities and/or personal relationship because the recent on-field success would suggest otherwise?

by Fort Wayne Sparty1/10/2017 4:35:01 PM

I could write a book about this someday. There are so many factors, some of them are more talked about then others. Every elite prospect has people in their ear, telling them which was to go, their "inner circle" per say. And yes, all factors from playing time, to program prestige, to coaching, to relationships within the program all come into play for a recruit. If MSU was losing out on kids to schools that are considered "below" their caliber, then I would be concerned. But when you're losing out on elite recruits to Duke in Basketball and Michigan in football, that makes a lot more sense and is less cause for concern. It's tough to recruit elite level talent coming off a 3-9 season. So many people say it and it's true, getting to the top is tough, but falling and getting back up to the top once you've been there in the past, is the hardest thing to do.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:40:01 PM

Its obvious with the O Line Talent coming in for this 2017 class at Mich, Harbaugh is dead set on pounding the ball. So with Naji Harris off to Bama, who do you see Jim Harbaugh going after between now and Natl Signing day?

by Top Dog1/10/2017 4:40:20 PM

I think people forget about Kareem Walker. He was a five-star recruit this past year, considered by many to be the best RB in the nation. He had some academic issues and struggled as a true freshman, but now that he's back with the team, I expect him and Chris Evans to form a dynamic punch in this backfield for years to come!

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:41:35 PM

Can mo buckets quick success help us get more European kids to come to Ann Arbor?

by Izzo wears diapers 1/10/2017 4:42:05 PM

Interesting name... But to your question, yes, that could certainly help. A player like Wagner with that type of game is an ideal fit for John Beilein's offense. I think you will see more players with that style of game head to Ann Arbor in the near future

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:44:29 PM

By most accounts, UM's 2017 class currently has @ 25-27 commits. Who are they still going after for this year and what is the realistic expectation that they will sign any more to this class. Any real positions of need at this point?

by Justin Sain1/10/2017 4:44:49 PM

You can never have enough CBs, and the Wolverines only have two signed in this class. They also only have one DT signed, which has to make Aubrey Solomon and Jay Tufele that much more attractive. But no doubt, Solomon is the top remaining target on their board, and a big one at that-

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:49:48 PM

We have a lot of questions coming in and time for a couple more, if I don't get to your question, feel free to ask me on Twitter, @MerrimanTweets. Always up for talking recruiting any time.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:51:22 PM

Will UM increase contact with Eno Benjamin now that Najee is off the board? Already lost Dillon.

by cbrad1/10/2017 4:52:12 PM

It's possible, but he seems pretty set on Arizona State

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:55:07 PM

Appears that UM's 2017 recruiting class is just about full and they have a good selection across all positions so far. Are there any top recruits that they are still going after or in on at this point? Given the large size of this class numbers wise, how many are realistic signings at this point? Thx.

by GoBluFan1/10/2017 4:55:19 PM

I think Michigan's class is pretty close to full. Obviously, they are still in the hint for Aubrey Solomon, who is the top recruit on their list still. The relationship with Oliver Martin and Nico Collins have appeared to cool down, although I wouldn't say they are both entirely out. Lot of rumors about Kai-Leon Herbert looking at other schools, so keep him is huge for Harbaugh and the coaching staff right now.

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 4:57:30 PM

A few mid-to-high 3-stars recently decommitted from Minnesota with the coaching change. Any chance any of those are on MSU's radar?

by tc1/10/2017 4:59:40 PM

It's possible, but as of now, I haven't heard anything on this front. MSU is zoning in on several prospects with upcoming visits, and I think that is where their focus is at right now

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 5:00:47 PM

Could Michigan have some unfilled scholarships and what big name could they still pull.

by Drae1/10/2017 5:00:58 PM

I've mentioned this several times, but Aubrey Solomon is the big name that Michigan is after right now. Solomon went on record following the U.S. Army All-American Bowl saying that Michigan was his leader, but then said Alabama was right there too. Stay tuned. This looks like it could be an epic recruiting battle between Michigan and Alabama!

by Sean Merriman1/10/2017 5:03:51 PM

That's it for today, folks. Thanks for joining. If I didn't get to your question, give me a follow on Twitter, @MerrimanTweets, and feel free to ask me there. Glad to always talk recruiting any place, any time!